The lawyer for Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush said he denies allegations made in a Louisiana courtroom recently that he gave ecstasy to women while hanging out with accused rapist Darren Sharper in Las Vegas.

"This is outrageous," Bush's California-based attorney Shawn Holley told the Free Press. "I can say to you on the record that Reggie adamantly, vehemently and unequivocally denies all of the statements in that article. We are demanding a retraction from The Advocate and Reggie is considering taking legal action."

Sharper, who played the 2009-10 seasons with the New Orleans Saints while Bush was with the team, is accused of being a serial rapist with charges pending or cases being investigated in five different states.

Bush has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

An FBI agent quoted by the Advocate indicated more investigations could be forthcoming, but a spokesperson for the the Las Vegas office of the Nevada Attorney General said they would neither confirm nor deny an investigation into Bush is ongoing.

The spokesperson said they would be able to comment if a complaint had been filed.

The Lions declined comment on the report.

"There is no investigation, there's never been any complaint made by any person of this happening," Holley said. "It appears to be something that's being stated by someone who is a criminal defendant in a serious case and looking for anything he can say to deflect from his own troubles. But there is not a shred of truth to any of this."

Holley said Bush's relationship with Sharper is limited to being a former teammate and friend of the five-time former Pro Bowl safety.

According to the Advocate, Licciardi mentioned Bush during an interview with investigators last year.

From the report:

"OK, um, I was in Vegas about three years ago and um, Reggie Bush put Molly in Champagne. He was handing out Molly on the dance floor to girls. Handing it out. Like giving it to them," Licciardi said.

"And how do you know that?" asked James O'Hern, an investigator for the D.A.'s Office.

"Cause I saw it with my own eyes," Licciardi responded.

("Molly" is another name for MDMA, an illegal party drug.)

Later in the interview, Licciardi backpedaled when asked again about the Las Vegas party.

"Reggie, yeah. No, I didn't see him put it in the drink. He told me. And he said he was handing it to people, in Vegas," Licciardi said, adding, "He asked me if I wanted some. And I was like, I don't do that stuff."

Friday night on Twitter, Bush wrote that he intended to take legal action against the Advocate.

I 100 percent intend to take legal action against The Advocate if they do not retract their LIE-FILLED article. Shame on you!

Bush played five seasons for the Saints and two more for the Miami Dolphins before signing a four-year free-agent deal with the Lions in 2013.

He led the team in rushing with 1,006 yards in his first season with the team, but missed five games with a nagging ankle injury last year and finished with just 297 yards rushing, the second lowest total of his career.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Caldwell have declined comment on Bush's future with the team this off-season. Bush turns 30 next month and has the seventh highest cap figure on the team at just over $5.2 million.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.